Apparatus for checking horses



(No Model.)

A. ROSS. APPARATUS FOR CHECKING HORSES No. 425,633. Patented Apr. 15, 1890.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

ALFRED ROSS, OF lVICI-IITA, KANSAS.

APPARATUS FOR CHECKING HORSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,633, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed AngustQ, 1889. Serial No. 320,241. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED ROSS, a citizen of theUnited States, residing atWichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Checking Horses; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to hitching devices for horses, and is to be applied to vehicles that are required to stop frequently and be left standing, the driver beingcalled upon to perform other duties. It is especially adapted for transfer and express wagons and merchants delivery and other wagons.

The improvement consists of the novel features and the peculiar construction and combination of the parts,which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and which are shown in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a team equipped with my hitching device; Fig. 2, a detail View showing the bracket and the end of the shaft having the pinion thereon; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 2, looking down.

The vehicle A is of ordinary construction, and is shown simply to illustrate the application of my invention. One of the hind wheels B is provided on the inner end of its hub with the toothed band I), which is provided to strengthen the hub and to mesh with the pinion d on the end of the shaft D, which is grooved near each end and journaled in the slotted brackets E, that project from the rear axle. This shaft is slipped in from the open ends of the slots in brackets E and is held therein by the pins 6. The pinion end of the shaft D is adapted to be moved to and from the toothed band I) by rod F and lever G, the latter being arranged within convenient reach of the driver and drawn back by spring I-I, so as to hold the pinion d out of gear with the toothed band I).

The upper end of lever G passes through the slotted keeper I, the side of the slot being notched to engage with the lever and hold it in a fixed position. Rod F is sufficiently rigid to throw pinion (Z out of gear with toothed band I; when lever G is thrown back, and its end f is bent around shaft D and fitted in a groove in said shaft.

The hitching-cord J is attached to shaft D, and its front end is engaged with the checkrein K, or otherwise connected with the bridle.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The hitching-cord being connected with the bridle and the pinion (Z being in gear with the toothed band, any attempt of the horses to run away will cause a rotation of shaft D and a winding up of cord J until the bridle is drawn on with such pressure as to bring them to a halt. When driving, the shaft D is thrown out of gear with the toothed band, the cord J being left connected with the bridle. The pinion and toothed band are pro tected by the shield 7c.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

.The hereinbefore shown and described apparatus for checking horses, consisting of the slotted bearings E, projecting from the rear axle, the shaft D, having reduced portions near each end that are journaled in the said slotted brackets, pins 0, for holding the shaft in its bearings, the hitching or check rope J, adapted to be wound on shaft D, the gearing (Z and b, for rotating shaft D in its bearings, the rod F, for throwing the gearing (Z and b in and out of mesh, the lever G, the spring H, for operating lever G to throw the gearing d and b in and out of mesh, and the slotted keeper I, having one edge notched to hold the lever G against the tension-spring H, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED ROSS.

Witnesses:

JAMES M. Ross, HORACE RENNIE. 

